History of London, founding and development of the city. Description of London. London, capital of England and Great Britain. Unofficial names for London

Almost all travelers who find themselves in Great Britain strive to visit its capital. It is not surprising, because the history of London has been going on for about two millennia and is full of events, including bloody ones. What can you tell about the creation and development of the political, economic and cultural center of the United Kingdom, and its interesting attractions?

History of London: the beginning

The first mention of the capital dates back to 43 AD. In fact, the history of London begins with the landing of Roman legionnaires on British Isles. Moving deeper into the territory, the troops encountered an obstacle, which was the famous Thames. Crossing the river meant building a bridge. To carry out the work, the Romans were forced to establish a camp on the northern bank of the Thames, which received the name Londinium.

If you believe the records of the scientist Tacitus, already in 51 the new settlement earned the title of a stronghold of trade. At first it was surrounded by an earthen wall, later (around the beginning of the fourth century) it was replaced by a stone wall. The history of London shows that the city went through difficult times associated with the collapse of the Roman Empire. The buildings were destroyed, the number of city residents decreased significantly. However, already in the seventh century London began to revive. It was then that the city acquired its first cathedral, named after St. Paul.

In the ninth century, the former Londinium regained its reputation as a center of trade, but a new problem arose - Viking raids. Only the monarch Edward the Confessor, who proclaimed Anglo-Saxon supremacy in the city in the mid-11th century, was able to restore order.

Middle Ages

The history of London during the Middle Ages is also eventful. In the 11th century, Westminster Abbey was built on its territory, where the famous William the Conqueror was crowned in 1066. Through the efforts of the king, the settlement became rich and large. The famous London Bridge crossing the Thames was built in 1209; it existed for about 600 years.

The time period covering 12, 13 turned out to be a difficult test for this locality. The history of the city of London shows that it was briefly captured by the French and experienced a peasant revolt. The plague epidemic also became a serious problem.

The period of the reign of the Tudor dynasty turned out to be beneficial for the capital of Foggy Albion. At this time, London was one of the largest European trading centers. The weakening of Spain, which was defeated in the war of 1588, had a positive effect on its development.

New time

The Tudors were replaced by the Stuarts, but the capital continued to prosper. By the way, London acquired the status of the main city in 1707. In the same century, the restoration of St. Paul's Cathedral, destroyed by fire, and the construction of the Westminster Bridge took place. turns into the main residence of the kings.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city experienced industrialization and urbanization, and the number of its inhabitants increased to one million people. The construction of railways began in 1836, and the subway appeared in London in 1863. Of course, there were problems, for example, cholera epidemics, which can be easily explained by rapid population growth.

The history of London also contains information about the losses suffered during the Second World War. Briefly: the capital repeatedly suffered from bombing by enemy aircraft, many buildings were destroyed. Only the approximate number of civilian casualties is known - 30 thousand people.

Description

Of course, not only the history of the creation of London is interesting. What is the main city of the United Kingdom like these days? It is known that this settlement is the second largest city located in Europe. Its area is approximately 1580 square kilometers.

How many people live in the capital of Foggy Albion? According to the latest data, this figure is approximately 8.5 million people. The residents of the city are not only British, but also Irish, Asians, Indians, etc.

The history of London says that the city did not always bear its modern name. In various chronicles that have survived to this day, this settlement is mentioned as Londinium, Ludenburg, Ludenwic. The 17th century is considered the bloodiest in the history of the capital; it was at this time that its residents faced such shocks as the Great Plague, which claimed the lives of more than 60 thousand people, and the Great Fire of London, which destroyed many buildings of historical value.

Local residents often call their city “big smoke.” This is due to the Great Smog, a disaster that took place in 1952. For five days, the settlement was shrouded in smoke; this happened as a result of the excessive concentration of industrial enterprises on its territory. The great smog claimed the lives of approximately four thousand people.

There is no subway in the world built earlier than London's. The inhabitants of London nicknamed it the “pipe”, since this is the shape most of the tunnels have.

London History Museum

The inhabitants carefully treat the history of their beloved city. Proof of this can be found in the London History Museum, the number of exhibits of which has long exceeded a million. This building stores everything that is connected with the life of the settlement, starting from the times before its foundation.

The grand opening of the museum took place in 1976; it is located next to St. Paul's Cathedral. Anyone can visit it for free. At the moment, the Lord Mayor's carriage is considered the most interesting exhibit.

Museum of Natural History

The museum in London appeared in 1881, at first it worked as part of the British Museum, and later officially separated from it. The building is famous for its rare exhibits from the world of zoology, botany, mineralogy, and paleontology. First of all, its popularity among residents and guests of the city is due to the fact that among the exhibits there are remains of dinosaurs.

For example, in the Museum of Natural History (its second name) you can see the skeleton of a diplodocus, the length of which is 26 meters. A mechanical model of a Tyrannosaurus rex is also shown to visitors.

Vivid sights

Fortunately, London's eventful history is not only recorded in textbooks. You can study it while exploring the sights for which the capital of Foggy Albion is deservedly famous. For example, the Tower of London is a fortress that has existed for over 900 years, witnessing almost the entire bloody history of Great Britain. Currently, it has been turned into a unique museum complex, which contains many interesting exhibits.

Westminster Abbey is a superb example of Gothic architecture, existing for several centuries and delighting with its elegance. It was here that the coronations of English rulers took place for more than a thousand years, and here are the graves of outstanding representatives of the nation - not only monarchs, but also scientists and writers. British museum contains such a number of exhibits that it is impossible to study them all even in a few days. The building area is 6 hectares. It is impossible not to mention which has 775 rooms.

First historical information about England and London date back to the 1st century BC, namely to the time of the Roman invasion. In the Celtic dialect, London was called Llyn-din and meant “lakeside fortress”. The place where the city arose was very swampy; the waters of the Thames constantly flooded it and made it look like a lake. Dominating this landscape was a small clay hill and several small islands.

The Romans called the city Londinium. It is believed that the colonialists rebuilt the city in the image and likeness of their cities. First of all, they erected a defensive wall that ran along the border of the modern City area. But the wall did not survive to this day; it was preserved only in the names of the streets and squares of the City - Newgate, Aldgate.

The central part of medieval young London was located on high ground, where St. Paul's Cathedral now stands. In those distant times, the Romans built a fortress here and stationed their army in it. Rich townspeople built villas along the Walbrook ravine.
In the 4th century, the Romans renamed London Augustus, but the name did not take root and remained as before - Londinium. The roads laid by the Romans had a huge influence on the development of the city. On the site of today's busy Oxford Street was a Roman road that turned north-west where Marble Arch now stands.

Another reminder of the Romans is the London Stone in the wall of St. Swithin's Church on Canon Street. It is believed that this stone is the remains of a Roman milepost, similar to the Golden Pillar in the Roman Forum, from which all roads diverged.
In 410, the Roman legions abandoned Britain, and the entire country was subject to brutal raids by nomadic tribes from the continent. But in such conditions, a city with strong power and financial resources stands out - London. Since then, it has been officially considered the capital of England.

Since the middle of the 11th century, London has been actively growing and expanding. The city wall, built by the Romans, has been repaired to include the Bishopgate gate.

From 1049 to 1065, St. Margaret's Church and Westminster Abbey were built, which became the site of the coronation of English kings. A royal palace was also built next door. On the southern bank of the Thames, the suburb of Southwark grew, which later became the main hub of all the roads of the kingdom.

By the beginning of the 13th century, the Strand was built - a road connecting the City and Westminster. Now it is one of the main streets of the capital.
In the period of the XI-XIII centuries, London was still surrounded by thick fortress walls. You could get into the city through one of the gates in the wall, of which there were 7 at that time. Wooden buildings predominated in the city at that time, but the culture of the English garden and front garden with flower beds already existed.

Under William I the Conqueror (in power 1066-1087), a huge gloomy castle was built - the Tower, which has been hanging over the city for centuries. All disobedient citizens, tax evaders and opponents of royal power were imprisoned here. Also in London there were already 13 monasteries. The most famous - St. Martin of Tours - was built in honor of the most revered saint in Europe.

A wide bridge was built across the Thames, the gates of which were locked at night, just like the gates in the city wall. In the mornings, when the gates opened, London was filled with foreign merchants from France and Holland, as well as peasants from the suburbs. French speech was heard everywhere. The fact is that the French language was then considered the language of the upper classes, and Anglo-Saxon (which was then spoken in England) was the language of the common people. It was then that the French language influenced English, enriching it with many words and phrases.

Traveling minstrels often came from France to London, singing songs and ballads, and competitions were held in the main city square with local singers and poets.

In the XIV-XV centuries, the city experienced rapid economic growth and gained increasing influence on the life of the country. This was due to an increase in wool exports. If earlier England made money by exporting raw wool, now it has become the largest producer of woolen cloth. Many Dutch weavers moved here, and numerous weaving factories were opened.
Since the early 1400s the city has expanded greatly. Now the spire-topped bell tower of St. Paul's Cathedral rose above the city. Then it was 158 m in height, which is 30 m more than the current building. That period is generally characterized by the appearance large quantity churches, monasteries and castles. But their decoration was very ascetic.

The city streets were narrow; carriages could hardly pass through them. Instead of sidewalks, ditches were laid on both sides of the streets for rainwater and sewage drainage into them. Cleaners were hired to clean the ditches, but this did not save the situation. The stench and stench on the streets contributed to the slaughterhouses located within the city. Because of such unsanitary conditions, London was often the epicenter of epidemics. Thus, the plague epidemic of 1348-49 claimed about 50 thousand lives.

It must be said that epidemics and misfortunes that came to the city every 30-40 years disappeared without a trace after the Great Fire of 1666.

Monks and nuns roamed such unkempt, dirty streets. Some preached, some begged, and some went on rampages. But according to the laws of that time, city authorities did not have the right to judge people of the clergy. They were subject only to the court of the church. Eventually, this situation began to irritate the townspeople. And in 1401, the king issued a decree to burn heretics at the stake. Since then, the streets have been lined with curious citizens wanting to watch the procession leading the condemned man to be burned in Smithfield. Now Smithfield is one of the oldest meat markets in London. Meat has been sold here for more than 800 years.

Despite numerous protests against the Roman catholic church, peasant uprisings, dynastic wars, a distinctive culture was formed in London, which later became one of the most revered cultures. The poet, author of the immortal “Canterbury Tales” Geoffrey Chaucer worked here. The first Guildhall library opened in 1423.

Chaucer's work was continued by his students. Thomas More became the author of the socialist novel Utopia. Already under Elizabeth I, a galaxy of writers shone: Francis Bacon, Edmund Spenser, Christopher Marlowe and, of course, William Shakespeare.

Interest in the history and literature of other countries arose in the upper strata of society. The study of foreign languages ​​has become fashionable. Theaters appeared where there was no scenery at all, and women’s roles were played by men.

After the Great Fire of 1666, when two-thirds of all the city's buildings and 90 thousand people perished, the city began to quickly be rebuilt. Most of the buildings were now made of stone. The air in the city became cleaner, and game was found on the outskirts.

A special construction commission was established, which included three architects: Hugh May, Roger Pratt and Christopher Wren. The most significant figure was Christopher Wren - physicist, mathematician, astronomer, one of the founders of the English Academy of Sciences. Before London, he had extensive construction experience in the construction of buildings in Oxford and Cambridge.

Wren began to restore London with the City. The main compositional centers remained St. Paul's Cathedral, the Mint, the Exchange, the Post Office and the square near London Bridge. An embankment was designed along the Thames.

According to the new city planning project, the streets were supposed to be straight and radially diverge from the five main squares.

Many new areas have emerged. Wealthy Londoners bought land on the outskirts and built spacious mansions. Each district was assigned its own function. Thus, the buildings of the Bank and the East India Company were built in the business City, the Admiralty was built in Westminster, and the front building of Somerset House and the Academy of Arts were built on the Strand. Around the palaces and parks of Westminster, a new wealthy district of the West End was formed, where aristocrats and nobility settled in luxurious mansions.

In the 19th century, London became the capital of the powerful British Empire and continued to grow in size. Industrial areas arose south of the Thames, which were connected to the center by six bridges. In the second half of the 19th century, the City and West End became non-residential areas. All wealthy citizens moved outside the city.

In addition to banks, on the territory of the City there are stock exchanges, editorial offices of the largest newspapers, offices of large companies and monopolies, as well as the Old Bailey - the central criminal court. Despite the modern appearance of the buildings, ancient traditions appear through their facades. So, the Bank of England is located on Threadneedle Street, which means “needles and threads”. Very close to it are Khlebnaya and Molochnaya streets. One of the noisy thoroughfares in the city center is called Poultry (poultry street).

In the historical center of London, not only squares (Trafalgar, Piccadilly Circus) are interesting, but also impressive buildings - Charing Cross station, the neo-Gothic ensemble of the Royal Court of Justice, Mansion House, Temple Bar memorial, numerous theaters and museums.

Initially it was a small settlement with an area of ​​about 0.8 km 2. By the year 100, London had become the capital of Britain and reached its peak in the 2nd century. After the Romans left, London was abandoned and fell into decay. In the 6th century, the Saxons began to settle around and by the end of the 9th century old center London began to recover. In subsequent centuries, under changing rulers, London was the center of the territory that transformed into Great Britain.

London grew a lot during the 19th century. During the Second World War, the city suffered serious damage, after which many historical areas were replaced by new ones. Currently, London is one of the economic and legal centers of the world; the headquarters of leading international companies are located on its territory.

Encyclopedic YouTube

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✪ London. Biography of the city - episode 1

✪ London. Biography of the city - episode 2

✪ Great cities: London

✪ Tim Marlow: "The History of the Royal Academy of Arts in London in Persons"

✪ Londinium - where London began

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Etymology

Etymology of the name London not determined. There are many different theories about the origin of the name: most of them are implausible and unfounded, and some are similar to plausible ones. But none of the versions has sufficient evidence.

Under the Romans the city was called Londinium. The name is believed to be pre-Roman (and possibly pre-Celtic), but there are no confirmed theories about its meaning. The Romans very often adopted the names of cities and territories adopted by indigenous peoples. The generally accepted theory is that the name comes from a Celtic place name Londinion from the word lond, meaning "wild".

The Anglo-Saxons founded their settlement of Lundenvik not far from the city abandoned by the Romans. The first part of the word was taken from the old name, and the suffix Vic in Old English meant " market town", so Lundenvik meant "London market town".

In 886 Alfred occupied the territory of London and made it inhabited again. To defend the kingdom, he began to build fortified settlements, which were called "burh" in the Anglo-Saxon language. London became one of these settlements under the name Ludenburgh. Later, this name was transformed by cutting off the second root into the modern name of the city. After the Norman Conquest, the city was called for some time in French-language sources Lundres, in Latin - Lundonia .

Among the unofficial names of the city: The Big Smoke And The Great Wen. Once upon a time the English called London The Big Smoke(or The Great Smog). This name can literally be translated as "Big Smoke". This definition is connected, of course, with the famous London smog of the 19th-20th centuries. Another unofficial name for the city is The Great Wen. Wen is an old English word that literally translates to "boil", which in this context means "crowded city". In terms of neighborhood nicknames, the City is often also referred to as the "square mile" because the area is just over a square mile in area. These two tropes are also used to generically refer to the financial sector of the British economy, as most financial companies and banks have traditionally been concentrated in the City for several centuries.

Early history

Legend of the founding

According to the legend from Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain, London was founded by Brutus of Troy after his victory over the giants Gog and Magog and was named Caer Troia, Troia Nova(from Latin New Troy), which, according to pseudo-etymology, was renamed Trinovantum. The Trinovantes were a tribe that inhabited the area before the arrival of the Romans.

However, despite intensive excavations, archaeologists have not found any signs of a powerful prehistoric tribe in this area. There were prehistoric finds, evidence of agriculture, burials and traces of habitation, but nothing more significant. It is now considered unlikely that a pre-Roman city existed, but Roman settlements have not been fully explored and precise data have not yet been obtained.

Londinium

At the end of the 3rd century, Londinium was raided several times by Saxon pirates. Because of this, around 250, several additional walls were built along the river. The wall stood for 1,600 years and defined the modern perimeter of London. 6 of London's 7 traditional gates were built by the Romans, namely: Ludgate, Newgate, Aldersgate, Cripplegate, Bishopsgate and Aldgate. At the end of the 4th century, Britain was again divided, and Londinium became the capital of the province of Maxima Caesarensis. In the 5th century, the Romans abandoned Londinium, and the city gradually began to be populated by Britons. After this, the city was practically abandoned.

London in the Middle Ages

Anglo-Saxon London

Until recently it was believed that no Anglo-Saxon settlements were built near Londinium. However, the Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Covent Garden, opened in 2008, showed that newcomers began to settle there from the beginning of the 6th century. The main part of the settlement is located outside the city walls. It was known as Lundenvik, the suffix -vik here meaning a trading settlement. Recent excavations have also revealed the population density and relatively complex urban organization of early Anglo-Saxon London.

In early Anglo-Saxon London there lived a people known as the Middle Saxons. However, at the beginning of the 7th century, the territory of the London region was included in the kingdom of Essex. In 604, King Saberth was baptized and Mellitus, the first bishop after the Romans, arrived in London. At this time, Ethelbert of Kent ruled in Essex, and under his patronage Mellitus founded the Council of St. Paul. The cathedral is believed to have been founded on the site of an old Roman temple to Diana (although Christopher Wren has found no evidence for this). It was only a modest church, and it was probably destroyed by the sons of Sabertus, who were pagans, after the expulsion of Mellitus. The establishment of Christianity in the east of the Saxon kingdom occurred during the reign of Sigebert II in the 650s. During the 8th century, the royal house of Mercia expanded its dominance over south-east England. Mercian dominance over London was established in the 730s.

London began to develop its own self-government. After Æthelred's death in 911, it became part of Wessex. Although it faced competition from the politically superior West Saxon center of Winchester, London's size and wealth brought it steadily increasing importance as a political focal point. King Æthelstan held many Witenagemot meetings in London and issued his laws from there, while King Æthelred the Foolish issued the laws of London in 978.

During Elthered's reign, Viking attacks on London resumed. In 994, London was unsuccessfully attacked by an army led by King Sven Forkbeard of Denmark. In 1013, a Danish attack ended badly for the English. London repelled the Danish attacks, but the rest of the country surrendered to Sven, but by the end of the year London had capitulated and Æthelred fled abroad. Sven ruled for only five weeks, after which he died, Elthered became king again. But Sven's son Knud returned with an army in 1015. After Æthelred's death in 1016, his son Edmund Ironside was proclaimed king and left to gather forces in Wessex. London was besieged by Canute, but was liberated by the army of King Edmund. When Edmund returned to Essex, Canute attacked again, but without success. However, Cnut defeated Edmund at the Battle of Ashdown and conquered all of England north of the Thames, including London. After Edmund's death, Canute gained control of the entire country.

The Norse sagas tell of a battle that took place when King Æthelred returned to attack the Danish forces occupying London. According to the saga, the Danes lined up on London Bridge and showered their attackers with spears. Undeterred, the attackers removed the roofs from nearby houses and, while on ships, covered themselves with them. Protected, they were able to get close enough to the bridge to attach ropes to the bridge, throw off the Vikings, and free London from occupation. This story supposedly took place during Elthered's return after Sven's death in 1014, but there is no conclusive evidence for this.

After the suppression of Canute's dynasty in 1042, Anglo-Saxon rule was restored by Edward the Confessor. He founded Westminster Abbey and spent most of his time in Westminster, which from that time became the center of government. Edward's death led to a dispute over the succession and the Norman conquest of England. Earl Harold Godwinson was elected by the people and crowned in Westminster Abbey, but was soon defeated and killed by the Norman Duke William at the Battle of Hastings. The surviving members of the Witan met in London and elected young Edgar Ætheling as the new king. The Normans advanced along the south bank of the Thames and stood opposite London. They defeated the English army and burned Southwark, but were unable to storm the bridge. They advanced upstream and crossed the river to attack London from the northwest. The English resolve collapsed, and representatives of the city, along with aristocrats and priests, came out to meet William to escort him to Berkhamsted. According to some reports, several skirmishes occurred when the Normans reached the city. William was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

London in the High and Late Middle Ages

Under the Norman regime, new fortresses were built in cities to subjugate the local population. The most important of these was the Tower in the eastern part of the city, where the first stone castle in England appeared on the site of earlier wooden fortifications. King William issued a charter in 1067 establishing the rights, benefits and laws of the city.

In 1176, construction began on one of the most famous incarnations of London Bridge (completed 1209), which was built on the site of earlier wooden bridges. This bridge stood for 600 years, and remained the only bridge over the Thames until 1739.

Over the next centuries, Norman policies were actively enforced in England. The Norman Conquest introduced the feudal culture of chivalry into England based on its French models. Old English was ousted from the sphere of government, and the Norman dialect of French became the language of administration and communication of the dominant social strata. For about three hundred years, the Anglo-Norman dialect dominated the country and had a great influence on the formation of modern English. However, in everyday life, French cultural and linguistic influence quickly declined to an indistinguishably small level. .

During the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, London was captured by rebels led by Wat Tyler. The peasants captured Tower of London and executed the Lord Chancellor, Archbishop Simon Sudbury, and the Lord Treasurer. The peasants plundered the city and set fire to many buildings. Tyler was killed during negotiations and the uprising subsided.

In 1100 the population of London was slightly more than 15,000. In 1300 it had risen to 80,000. London lost at least half of its population during the plague in the mid-14th century, but its economic and political importance stimulated a rapid recovery despite further epidemics.

Medieval London had many narrow and winding streets, and most buildings were built from flammable materials such as wood and straw, making them a fire hazard. Sanitation in the city was poor.

New story

London under the Tudors (1485-1603)

The first mention of London and its founding

Even modern history cannot name the exact date of the first settlements on the current territory of London. This is due to the fact that the first mentions of the city are found only in the chronicles of 43 AD. It was at this time that the Roman legionnaires of Emperor Claudius invaded England (at that time, Britain). To cross the River Thames, they needed to build a bridge, and it was around this place that the city of London began to grow. At that time it was called Londinium, and was built similar in its architecture and style to Roman cities.

One wall was built around Londinium, then an earthen embankment, and in the 4th century a stone wall appeared. In terms of area, this fenced area almost completely follows the contours of the modern center of London - the City area. The careful placement of Londinium (on the banks of the Thames River) and the presence of good roads determined its development as a large shopping center. The town grew rapidly, starting on Corn Hill and extending west to St. Paul's Hill. Already in 51, history contains references to Londinium as a trading center throughout Britain.

During these years, the center of Londinium was built up with brick and stone houses of the London aristocracy. In light of the latest excavations, we can talk about the high well-being of the people living in the center. The houses had bathrooms and even heating and air conditioning. There were various paintings and mosaics on the walls.

Londinium received further strengthening and development due to the decline of the Roman Empire. In the 2nd century AD, construction of a global wall around the city begins. It was made of limestone and was more than 3 meters thick. But by the 4th century Londinium was losing its great commercial importance. This happens due to the increasing frequency of barbarian raids from Northern Europe. The city is falling into decay, the population is leaving it. In 410, the Roman Emperor Honorius recalled his legionaries from Londinium and the city remained abandoned for many years.

In the 7th century, England began its economic development, and around 604, the first St. Paul's Cathedral was built in Londinium. The city again began to earn its status as the trading center of England, and by the 9th century it was regaining its former importance. In the 9th-11th centuries, there was an ongoing struggle for Londinium between the Normans, Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. And only in the middle of the 11th century did King Edward completely bring the city under the ownership of the Anglo-Saxons.

Medieval period

In 1066, the so-called medieval period in the history of London begins. At this time, William the Conqueror becomes king of England. He was crowned in the newly built Westminster Abbey. It was this ruler of the country who was able to make London the largest and richest city in Britain. Duke Wilhelm was very interesting person. He was loyal, devoted and moderately noble. But in wars and during attempts to conquer his territory, he was ruthless and went to the most extreme measures. This policy of his led to the resurrection and strengthening of England in general, and London in particular.

In 1176, the first stone bridge across the Thames was built. The quality and solidity of the structure is evidenced by the fact that this bridge was the only one across the river until 1739.

In 1191 London gained the right to self-government. A judge and a sheriff are subject to election. London becomes a separate city, and its elite plays a large political and economic role throughout England. The city does not expand its borders, the center remains hidden behind a stone wall, and other settlements appear behind the fence. In the future, the city has nowhere to go, the population is growing, and it is necessary to move the city outside the City. Then the management functions are transferred to Westminster, where the Supreme Court, and the royal treasury, and parliament.

During the reign of Elizabeth I, the population of London doubles in 40 years and by 1600 reaches 200 thousand. The Royal Exchange was founded in 1560, and the Globe Theater was built in 1599, where most of Shakespeare's plays were staged. In 1631, the architect Inigo Jones created the Covent Garden piazza, the first block created according to a special plan. Of his works, it is necessary to mention Queen's House (Greenwich), Banqueting Hall (Whitehall) and Queen's Chapel.

By the middle of the 16th century, London had already surpassed Paris, the largest city at that time, in terms of population, and continued to expand. The most interesting thing is that, due to the law prohibiting construction in London, almost all houses are 4-5 storey wooden buildings that form one continuous street, without gaps between the houses.

In 1666, the Great Fire occurs in London. This truly terrible tragedy has become firmly entrenched in the history of the city. The fire started at night, around 2 o'clock, on September 2 in one of the bakeries. Due to the type of development of the city and the large number of wooden houses with thatched roofs, the fire engulfed London instantly, and it could not be extinguished for more than 3 days. During these days, half of the city burned out, more than 13 thousand houses were destroyed by flames, the city center - the City - was almost completely “perished” in the fire, and more than 200 thousand people were left without a roof over their heads, which at that time amounted to almost half of the population of London. Interesting fact: 6 people died in the Great Fire, which clearly speaks of the restraint and organization of the British. After the fire was extinguished, it became clear that nothing could be restored in London and the entire city needed to be rebuilt. Thus began the history of the new city.

London after the Great Fire

By 1801, London's population reached one million people. Most live in the City, West End and Westminster. But gradually, trading floors, shops and industrial buildings are “squeezing out” residential buildings from these areas. And by 1841, less than a quarter of the population lived in these 3 parts of the city.

In general, in the 19th century the population of London increased to 6 million. Naturally, such a city needs a developed transport network and living conditions. At this time, one of the irreplaceable structures appears - sewerage. It passed through the whole of London, its length was more than 2 thousand kilometers. This reduced the number of outbreaks of plague and cholera and reduced mortality in London.

In 1836, the first railway was laid in London - from London Bridge to Greenwich. Within 12 years, 5 stations were built. Already in 1844, it was possible to travel by rail not only around London, but also to other major cities in England. And in 1863 the London Underground appeared. Everyone quickly appreciated the convenience and importance of this type of transport, and the metro network quickly expanded. In 1906, the first electric trains ran on the London Underground rails. Buses began running around London in 1904.

In 1830, old buildings near Buckingham Palace were demolished and created Trafalgar Square(Trafalgar Square), where the National Gallery will be built two years later. In 1834, a fire destroyed the Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster. In their place, the modern Parliament building was built according to the design of Charles Barry and A.W. Pugin. The famous clock tower known as Big Ben ( Big Ben), was built in 1859. The origin of the name is unknown, but in fact Big Ben is not a tower or a clock, but a clock bell. At the beginning of the 20th century, many new large stores, theaters, and luxury hotels were built, most of them in the West End. The Ritz opened in 1906, the new Knightsbridge store opened in 1905 and Selfridges opened in 1907.

So London became not only the trading center of England, but a major financial center of the whole world. The Second World War left behind many destroyed buildings in the city. But this prompted the government to pass a law banning construction in the city center and draw up a new project for London. In 1951 it was approved and within 20 years the city was reconstructed in accordance with the tasks and problems facing it.

The post-war period was marked by a huge influx of immigrants from various countries of the former British Empire. Migrants from Hong Kong settled in Soho, immigrants from the Caribbean islands in Notting Hill, Sikhs in Southall, Cypriots in Finsbury. In 1946, the first flight took place from the new Heathrow Airport. The first red double-decker buses hit the streets of London in 1956. Over the course of 10 years from 1972 to 1982, the Thames Barrier was built on the banks of the Thames, protecting the city from river flooding. The last big project of the 20th century and the second millennium was the Millennium Dome, an exhibition center opened on January 1, 2000.

At the moment, London contains both medieval architecture and the styles of French and Italian architecture and at the same time represents modern city with majestic buildings and huge squares.

To restore the city, it was decided to find an architect who would draw up a plan for the new city in accordance with the wishes of the government and build it entirely in the same style. Several projects were considered and as a result one was chosen - the architect Christopher Wren. This man's personality is very interesting. Christopher Wren was a versatile scientist; he successfully combined the professions of artist, astronomer, and mathematician. But his obvious talent was architecture. In the spring of that ill-fated year for London in 1666, he prepared a project for the reconstruction of St. Paul's Cathedral, and then, after the fire, he had the opportunity not only to restore, but to fully implement his plan and build a new cathedral, because The old one was completely burnt out. At the same time as this construction, he is rebuilding much of London. The government approved the project, which brought together the best of Italian and French architecture. London, as conceived by Christopher Wren, was supposed to have a radial type of street structure with large areas and large stone and brick buildings. This is how the almost modern city of London appeared.

London– a city of double-decker red buses and the famous Big Ben, only here you can see a skyscraper with the funny name “Cucumber” and the unusual Dali Universe. However, first things first.

Founding of London

This city appeared back in 43 AD; Emperor Claudius appropriated it for himself during one of his many campaigns. The name of the city comes from the Latin “londinium”, but no one knows what this word means. There is an assumption that it denotes an area - a lake or simply some kind of wild place. However, this will remain a mystery of the universe.

Numerous wars almost completely destroyed the city, only in the Middle Ages they began to actively restore it and as a result it became the richest city, which it remains to this day.

Population London is just over eight million people, of whom only about 44% are native white British. But all the rest are migrants from the countries of the Middle East, Poland, India, France, Italy and other countries. They moved into the country for centuries, gradually diluting the population of London.

The religion professed by the majority of London residents is Christianity; it is followed by approximately 48% of the total population, 12% are Muslims. There are also representatives of other religions in London, but in smaller numbers.

London is also famous for its huge number of streets - more than 25 thousand. If we consider by district, London consists of 32 districts, as well as the City - a county in the center of Greater London, from which the entire history of London began.

If you need to call London, you first need to dial the country code +44, and then the city code, for London it is 20. After this, the direct number of the subscriber is dialed.

London Attractions

Among the most striking sights is the famous tower clock with a bell. Moreover, it is the bell that is called Big Ben, and not the tower itself, as many tourists mistakenly believe. Quite often it is recommended to visit “” - this is the name of the Ferris wheel, whose height is 135 meters. It is from this height that you can perfectly view the entire city in full view, and at the same time notice the most beautiful places that you can visit in the future.

The “cucumber” skyscraper mentioned at the beginning of the article also has every right to be considered a highlight of London. Its real name is Mary-Ex 30, this creation has an oblong shape and is decorated with green glass, which is why locals jokingly call the skyscraper “the cucumber.” This skyscraper is unique in that, due to its shape, it consumes half as much electricity as its other skyscraper brothers of the same height.

For art lovers, the best place to visit is Dali's Universe, a creative exhibition of Dali's works with more than 500 exhibits.

London It is famous for its large number of luxurious palaces from different eras, as well as all kinds of museums, which are simply not possible to visit at once. First of all, it is worth paying attention to famous museum Madame Tussauds and... They perfectly reflect the true essence of London and all its beauty.

Londoners

Naturally, any person who plans to travel to London will be interested in the question - what are local Londoners like? These people are very positive, they sacredly honor all their traditions, prefer not to get into quarrels and know how to stand in queues absolutely calmly. Their main tradition is tea drinking, they drink tea always and everywhere. If you are visiting, you must definitely drink at least a couple of cups of tea, otherwise the hosts will think that you didn’t like it at their place.

The majority of the population of London are believers, therefore they observe fasts and always celebrate religious holidays - Easter, Christmas. Londoners are also avid conservatives; they do not particularly like any innovations. They are very punctual and are never late. All their plans are thought out for a week in advance, so they must be warned about important events in advance.

The majority of the population speaks English, so communication problems usually do not arise. But in London there are also many dialects, the most striking of which is Cockney, the language of the lower strata of society, where many words are pronounced incorrectly, as if deliberately distorted.

The weather in London usually does not cause any inconvenience, as there are no sudden changes here. Temperatures here in summer range from 14 to 25 degrees, and London winters are usually damp, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 8 degrees. But in London it rains quite often, lightly but annoyingly. But you won’t get snow in London – it only falls a couple of times a year.

In addition to viewing the local beauties, you can safely go shopping in London - there are entire streets of boutiques, for example Oxford street or Regent street, the shops are located from the most expensive to the cheapest, so everyone can find the most suitable option for themselves. Grand sales are held twice a year, when the price can be even up to 90% lower than the original one. Typically sales are held in January and June, but some stores may choose their own sales times.

Naturally, London, like any other city in the world, has its own prohibitions, public and unspoken. You should find out about them in advance so as not to get into an awkward situation. Surely any tourist will take a lot of photographs, so it is worth remembering that it is better not to take photographs of other people’s children in London; their parents will most likely turn to the nearest policeman with a request to reprimand you. Also, do not try to deceive people in the queues, trying to move forward under a plausible pretext, and even more so, do not push your way into the queue - the calm British will look at you with such contemptuous glances that you will immediately want to immediately leave this queue to hell.

Local residents are usually always polite and friendly, so it is recommended to reciprocate - say hello to sellers, and always thank people who provided even trivial help. In addition, in London they love all kinds of pets, so do not openly demonstrate your dislike of animals.

It should be remembered that vehicular traffic in capital of Great Britain left-handed. This means that when crossing the road, you should first look to the right and then to the left. For this reason, tourists from countries with right-hand traffic are not recommended to rent cars in London - quite often it is difficult for the driver to change his habitual driving pattern and therefore tourists often become a nuisance on the road or even get into accidents. It is better to rent a bicycle - it will be much cheaper and more practical.

In general, in addition to renting a car, you can use public transport: the metro, the famous ones, the ticket for them is bought before the trip, and not on the bus itself. It is worth remembering that the machine that sells tickets at bus stops does not give out change. Public transport operates around the clock, closes around midnight and opens at half past five in the morning on weekdays, on weekends - at seven in the morning. You can always catch a taxi, but a trip in one will cost much more, in addition, the cost will increase if you are not traveling alone or with large luggage, which will have to be placed in the taxi cabin.

Another thing worth mentioning is the local cuisine. When you come to London, you should definitely try pudding from Yorkshire – that’s the name of the local county. Interesting dish– “shepherd’s pie” stuffed with minced meat and vegetables.

But if you can still miss the dishes, then you absolutely must visit at least one of them! Only here it is possible to try a huge number of different types of beer, which is rightfully considered the signature drink of Great Britain. All other alcoholic drinks are also available here, and in pubs you can try dishes of various cuisines. In addition to drinking strong drinks, the pub offers a chance to play billiards, watch live football or take part in traditional quizzes for which you can win prizes. If previously pubs were a place exclusively for men, now the whole family can come to a pub and children will also find suitable entertainment.

As seen, London is not only a gray city of constant rains, as many mistakenly believe. This is a city of bright colors, friendly people and unique beauty of sights. Therefore, you should visit the capital of Great Britain at least once in your life, dispelling all your myths and ideas about it.